One of the most difficult and frustrating categories to work around in fantasy baseball is saves.
Some believe in using early picks on elite-level closers, and others believe you can, due to so much volatility at the position, fill the category throughout the season using waivers.
Unfortunately, both strategies have failed as often as they have succeeded.
It doesn’t matter if you drafted Edwin Diaz early or Daniel Bard late, you’ve been scrambling for saves with minimal hope in sight.
But being proactive on the waiver wire can land you some potential closers-in-waiting and help to solidify your hold on the category.
Though most people believe Felix Bautista has the closer’s job locked down in Baltimore, his job security is far from elite.
He dealt with command issues to open the season before he leveled off for a few weeks, but recent performances have manager Brandon Hyde tightening his grip on the leash.
Bautista blew a save on April 21, and though he has nailed down two since heading into Friday, he is also dealing with more command issues once again.
Over his past four outings, Bautista has walked six batters, allowed two hits and given up one run.
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A rising WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) is not something a manager wants to see.
So though Bautista holds the ninth for now, Hyde could consider a move to 29-year-old right-hander Yennier Cano.
Cano makes for an interesting option should the Orioles need a change in the ninth.
Called up midway through April, Cano has been used mostly in high-leverage situations in the seventh and eighth, but has also been used in the ninth on days when Bautista needs to rest.
Cano has two saves under his belt and has yet to allow a run over 11 appearances (9 ²/₃ innings) with 16 strikeouts and no walks.
His mid-90s fastball has great movement, but his bread-and-butter seems to be a sinker that looks so heavy batters are completely helpless in their attempt to track the pitch from the moment it leaves Cano’s hand. Add in a 90-mph changeup with serious vertical movement, and you’ve got a live arm few players can hit.
In fantasy, the key to adding a closer-in-waiting is to get someone who not only has a path towards saves, but also can help even when he isn’t working the ninth.
If Cano is averaging five innings per week, he will certainly help lower your ratios, but even more, a 10.29 K/9 will also augment your strikeouts. Adding him now is a savvy move, and could frustrate your competition once Cano slides into the closer’s role full-time.
Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on Twitter @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy baseball advice.
